1 - Safety Inspection
1 - Safety Inspection
A: INSPECTIONS
A1: OVERVIEW
This lecture provides a basic understanding of workplace inspections,
checklists and procedural audits. The lecture covers their advantages and
disadvantages, and explains how to formulate one's own inspection
procedure and procedural audit as part of the approach to accident
prevention.
Workplace Inspections: An inspection of a workplace aimed at identifying
hazards. The inspection should be performed with a checklist and be
periodically reviewed.
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Plant and equipment audits;
Task analysis and introduction of safety procedures;
Control and monitoring of materials;
Employee training; and
Consultative procedures.
Systems audits;
Job safety analysis;
Consultative discussions;
Tool box topics;
Reviewing accident statistics and trends;
Systems Safety;
Hazard and Operability studies;
Fault Tree Analysis; and the
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Adequate training must be provided to overcome this problem. It may also
be good practice for inspecting to be done by someone from outside the
work area.
A5: RESPONSIBILITIES
Site Manager:
Ensure that an effective, participative inspection process is developed
for each work group/area.
Participate in the inspections on a regular basis.
Ensure action plans and the follow-up process are completed.
Middle Managers/Supervisors:
Ensure that the inspection process is implemented within the
respective work group.
Participate in the development of inspection checklists for each area.
Participate in inspections and ensure remedial action is prompt.
Monitor recommended action to ensure resolution.
Employees:
Participate in inspections and their development and implementation.
Recommend practical solutions to identify risks.
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At the completion of each inspection, any deficiencies identified must be
noted on the summary sheet for action. A debriefing should then be
conducted with the area supervisor, who needs to resolve how and who will
be responsible for rectification and for notifying the safety and health
committee. Any issues that are identified as continuing must be reported to
the area manager and to the occupational safety and health committee.
It is the responsibility of each department to develop with their work teams
the most efficient manner in which such inspections will be performed. The
minimum requirement is that a written procedure for inspections is
developed which:
Defines responsibility;
Stipulates the frequency of inspections (which should be on a regular
basis);
Gives precedence to consultation with worker safety and health
representatives;
Recommends appropriate corrective action within specified
timeframes;
Sets priorities for corrective action;
Assigns personnel for corrective action;
Provides feedback to the safety and health committee;
Provides feedback to work groups; and
Has a follow-up or review of corrective action.
B: CHECKLISTS
B1: DEVELOP INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Formulating a workplace inspections procedure and checklist is a difficult
task that requires a lot of research. Each workplace needs to define an
"ultimate" checklist that covers all identified hazards and details the
necessary procedures.
The general sample checklist provided at the end of the lecture satisfies the
above criteria but, because every workplace has unique and different
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hazards, you must also review the information in the References and Further
Reading section as well as the relevant standards, codes of practice and
legislation.
Key Point: It is essential you develop your own inspection procedure and
checklist.
The two rating systems should only be used if there are clear and specific
matters to be considered. These specific matters should relate to
occupational safety and health requirements such as Australian Standards,
codes of practice or regulations.
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Checklists vary according to the workplace due to different hazards
being present, e.g. checklist for fishing industry may be different to
the manufacturing sector.
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Can the machine's energy source be isolated and be locked out during
repair, cleaning, and maintenance?
Is the workplace adequately lit?
Are workers adequately trained in the safe use of the machine?
(requires additional investigations)
Is the floor surface regularly cleaned?
Is wood dust adequately controlled?
Are electrical leads in good condition?
Are electrical leads tagged and maintained?
Is the floor surface slip resistant?
Is the noise exposure likely to exceed the action level?
Are saw blades used that reduce the amount of noise?
Are employees wearing hearing protection?
Are employees wearing respiratory protection?
Are employees wearing eye protection?
Are safety signs displayed?
Is pedestrian access delineated from work areas by white lines?
Is a push stick used for cutting small pieces of wood?
Is the height of the table appropriate (1015 mm height) for the
operator?
Is the weight of the object being cut less than 16 kg?
Is the object being cut more than 50 cm wide?
Are there emergency procedures to follow in case of an accident or
fire?
Is there an appropriate first aid kit nearby?
Have the extinguishers been recently serviced?
Are there adequate directions towards fire exits?